Scaffold connection



Oct. 7, 1952 R. E. HAGAN SCAFFOLD CONNECTION Filed Oct. 22, 1949Patented Oct. 7, 1952 Robert E. Hagan; Youngstown, Ohio I ApplicationOctober 22, 1949, Serial No. 123,061

This invention relates to sectional scaffolding of, th e kindhaving aplurality of transversely extending separable metal' end frames whichare assembled in vertical superimposed relation and which are bracedlongitudinally with separable bracing members, and more particularly toimproved and simplified arrangements for securely locking the bracingmembers to the vend frames and for locking the superimposed end framestogether, if desired.

It is common practice in sectional scaffolding of the kind mentioned toprovide separable brace members extending longitudinally and diagonallyof the assembled scaffold frames or bents and to provide quickdetachable interconnections between the frames or bents and the braces,and it is the primary objectof the present invention to provide animproved arrangement for interconnecting the upstanding frames and thediagonal braces whereby all the operative parts are rugged and durablewhile being permanentlyattached to either the frame members cr the bracemembers, whereby the brace members may be more efficient and rugged thanthose heretofore employed while the interconnection itself is ofstronger construction than heretofore employed in sectional scaffoldequipment. More-specifically, the apparatus of i theinvention is suchthat maximum use is made of tubular metal parts and sections whichpossess maximum strength modulae for given weights of material as iswell'understood in the structural art;

.Another object of the invention is the provision-of improved sectionalscaffolding wherein the component parts for detachably interconnectingthe separable frames and braces are of a rugged, blunt nature so as towithstand very severe conditions of service, whether stored or in use,over av long period of time and wherein such parts are permanentlycarried by the frames andbraces, without any tendency of any part tofall oif, whereby the scaffolding may be erected at all times simply byassembling only the frames and braces.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed specification andthe accompanyin drawing wherein there is disclosed a preferredembodiment of the invention.

. i In thedrawing: I

Figure l is a perspective view of an elementary scaffold assembly madeup of one pair of spaced frames or bents and a plurality ofiongitudinally extending diagonal brace members; Figure- 2; is aperspective vieW, on an enlarged scale, of the upper endportion of one.of the Vertically extending pOsts ofjone of the frames .pifie re a 3Claims. (oi. soc-4o).

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end view of one of the brace members shown inposition about to be assembled toan adjacent frame;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the brace members; and

Figures 5 and 6 are top and sectional views, respectively, of one of thelocking pins used to i connect the braces to the frames.

The scaffolding of the invention is,.. in accordance with usualpractice, assembled of a plurality of longitudinally spaced andvertically superimposed frames or bents, two of which are shownat illinFig'ure 1. Each of the frames [0 comprises a pair of spaced verticallyextending tubular posts it which are interconnected at their top ends bya tubular strut i 2 and at their bottom ends by a tubular strut i3.Interconnecting the struts l2 and i3 is a pair of obliquely disposedbracing struts i l and i5 and it will be understood that all the partsil through i5 are suitably welded together to form a rigid frame. Inpractice. the horizontal members I2 ,of the various top frames of thescaffolding structure are utilized tosupportplanking, not shown, tosupportworkmen and materials.

.On each sideof each vertical post II and at both the top and bottomends thereof there is rigidly secured apair of spaced and aligned,tubular collars Hi. In actual practice the colill) of the'brace membersI8.

,lars I6, are secured to the posts II by fillet-type of welds so thatrigid and permanent connections are effectedbetween the collars and thejposts. .The collars iii of each pair are spaced sufiiciently to snuglyreceive between them a tubular fitting H which is Welded to the ends Thebrace members [8 may be of either tubular or rod construction andasevident from Figure 4f the brace member assemblies i1, it are reversibleso that only one style-of brace member is required in the scaffoldingassembly.

To releasably secure the brace member fitting i1 betweenthe two collarsi6 of the respective pairs thereof each pair of collars is provided witha retractible, pin I9 in the form of a tubular member having a roundedlower or inner end, all as shown in Figure 6. Welded or otherwisesuitablysecured to the upper or outer end of each of the pins 19 is aflange 28 having a cut-away portion 2i for being received abouttheperipheryofthe post It whereby the pin 19 may be slidably received inthe collar IS in bridging relation to the two collars of each pairthereof. To complete the-assembly, I provide means permanentlyattachedto the post II to ,limit; theretraction of the various pins i9 so thatthese pins will be-permanently carried by the respective frames of thescaffolding equipment. In the case of the pins [9 which are at the upperends of the frames the retraction limiting means is in the form of pins22 which extend diametrically through suitable apertures formed in theupper end portions of the posts I I and also .throughr aperturesviormed.irr-centrally shouldered connecting plugs: 23 t which project into thetop ends of the posts II as shown in Figure 2. The means limiting theretractionxof the pins I9 at the lower ends of the frames are the pins24 which extend diametricallythrough the lower end portions of the postsII. In actual practice, the pins 22 and 24 are driven into place afterthe pins I9 are-inserted in the -.col-- lars I 6 so that the pins 22 and24 will stay in place permanently while the pins I9 will have limitedretraction butiwill always be carried on the" frames; By referring to-Figure-2i t will .be obvious that-the relativefilocation of the"various parts is such thatthepins I9-may-be retracted "sufliciently toenablethe'fitting I'I-"of the;braces l8 .to be inserted between the,twoecollarszIE-of "the respective-pairsof'coHars:

*In' assembling scaffolding from "tithe parts above described-*thefiamesI-aresuperimposed on each:other-*with the lower-open-endsof thetubular-'posts-I I fitting overtthe upwardly Projecting-n-ibs of'theconnecting;plugs-23-'soas to avoid any side waysslipplng'ofthe-vertically aligned frames. For most installations" thissimple slidingconnection-is -eflicient but in case it"is"desirable tomore rigidly" lock the frames together, the lower-end of the-extremities"of the posts I I are provided' with" diametric apertures- 25 toregister withdiametric apertures '26 in" the plugs 23 "wherebyconnecting pins-"not shown; may be drive'nthrough theselined aper-"turesiaswill be understood. The braceslaare added to-"the-assembly-byretractingthepins I9 *toenable the fittingsII-tobe received between thetwo-collars I6 ---of' the respective pairs 1 of colla s after'whichthepins 4 I 9 are moved down- "wardly to'bridge-the' collars I 6*withthe fittings i I1 -locked='therebetween; emalained above, animportant=-featureof the' invention is the manner of connecting the*d-iagonal'braces" IB- tothe uprightposts '01 the scaffold frames and itshould now be ap- -parent that I have' provided an operative ;-con-;said,'.p. osts near bothrtlie top .and' bottom ends thereof; jthespace;between saidl'coHarslbeing 4 The above specifically describedembodiment of the invention should be considered as illustrative only asobviously many changes may be madestherein" without departing 'from::the spirit .or::scope-:.of; the invention... Reference shouldtherefore be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

'1.-"In--a tubular sectional scaffolding of the type comprising spacedvertically disposed frames having spaced pairs of rigidlyconneeted-upstariding posts, diagonal brace membersdor connecting thetop portions of certain of said frames to the bottom portions of certainothers of said. frames, and detachablemeans "for" releasably connectingsaid brace: members 1 to said frames; the jmprovementimsaid :detachablemeans comprising space'd "vertically raligned pairs, of "tubularcollars. rigidly secured to and directly, in contact with r the, outer,surface, of

substantially greatenthan the; internal diameter thereof, vertically,alisnedgelongatedrtubu- .lar', fittings s of. the same cross:section hassaid collars.rigidlxsecurediatreach end,oi-said diagonal .bra-cermembers and. adapted to. be. received between the collars,.oi..each pair,said.- fittings being substantiallyequalin length; to ,the Jength 132.1Apparatusaaccordmgn to:..claim;; 1:; further characterized-sin ithatr;theameans :linriting:.the 1SIidiEEKRQYGmBHE'LOfZSaj-GTP11153111)onezdirection comprises wide:flanges:on ithesuppemendssof-zsaid nectionfor these-two parts' which accomplishes the objectsinitiallyset out;"The stubby closecoupled nature of the-fittings I I 'provide'bracemembers" of maximum strength and by positloning' the endsof thesebrace-members in close proximity to or in contactwith the outer surfacesof the posts I I a maximum of rigidity is obtained in the assembled--sca'ffolding. Any pushing force exerted by a brace 1s opposed,notalone-by the associated pin I9, but also by the -direct contact ofthe associ-ated' fitting- I1 "with the outer surfaceofl thepost" I I andwith "the: inner endsurfaces of theadjacent collars I6; Forcesoff-tension "are-=oppose'd by the pins I9; 1 which in themselvesare-very efiicientbecause of their: largediameters," lield in two of thecollars I6; each of which is sufilciently securedto'the post- II asexplained' labovee The large diameter of the pins L I9 isfurther'advantageous :inreclucing wear: and im-minimizing the effectsof'corrosionand other-deteriorating actions.-=. Since -it"is' impossiblefor the fittings- I1 to: have any infiuence-onth'e longitudinal- 01*retractingmovement' of the pins IS -"the latterare L- effectivelyxheldun -operative positions bya':c0mbinationof gravity J and 1 frictionwhich1 simplifies the design and operation of-jtlie complete apparatus; a

pins adaptedato; engaseaand:v rest 0n:.lthe:.upper ones of:thesspacedzpairssof collarsnsaidzflanges extending radially: outwardofzsaid; collars whereby to be readily grasped and axiallyzwith'drawnto; release; saidifittinga; and, said.:flanges being recessed.onpthesside ;.there0fi adjacent: said;.posts. 3.-eAppa-ratus-zzaccordingwr to. claimrj 2"urther .-characterized-;.;in :thatzithe:means limiting the slidingzimoyementuof:1said'rpins in" the oppositedirectiongcomprisesnretaining pins-extending into .thersliding paths ofitravel of said pins whereby to limit: theaextenttzoiz withdrawal 0fsaid pins 3 .fromtheirrrespective pairs of collars.v

ROBER'IQEL'HAGAN.

REFERENCES "CITED' The .following reierences-iareof recorcLin th'fileaofrthis, patent: 1

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